Development and Validation of Two Scales to Measure Elaboration and Behaviors Associated with Stewardship in Children
Vezeau SL, Powell RB, Stern MJ, Moore DD, Wright BA. 2015. Development and Validation of Two Scales to Measure Elaboration and Behaviors Associated with Stewardship in Children. Environmental Education Research. 23(2):192-213
ABSTRACT: This investigation examines the development of two scales that measure elaboration and behaviors associated with stewardship in children. The scales were developed using confirmatory factor analysis to investigate their construct validity, reliability, and psychometric properties. Results suggest that a second-order factor model structure provides the best fit. This model produced: (1) a stewardship elaboration scale measuring interest and cognitive engagement in stewardship issues, and (2) a stewardship behavior scale measuring in-park, community, and home behaviors. These scales will be useful for evaluating environmental educational programs focused on environmental and park stewardship. The scales may also help researchers assess whether environmental education results in participants elaborating on persuasive messaging, thereby increasing the likelihood that behavioral intentions leading to behavior change will occur.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Vezeau, Susan; Powell, Robert; Stern, Marc; Moore, D; Wright, Brett
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, confirmatory factor analysis, elaboration likelihood model, environmental education, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00881, Junior Ranger, scale development, SER, social research, Southeast Region, stewardship behavior, visitors
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use